Traumatic brain injury (TBI) decisions — 2014

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his request for withdrawal of the appeals related to right ear hearing loss, migraine headaches as residuals of a traumatic brain injury, and left ear hearing loss. The remaining claims are TDIU and increased rating for PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a traumatic brain injury is being remanded due to the need to obtain additional medical records, including SSA disability benefits records and VA treatment records. The examiner will be asked to determine if the Veteran has a TBI that had its onset during his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to obtain outstanding VA treatment records and for a new medical opinion regarding his claim of service connection for residuals of frostbite of both feet.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for TBI and bipolar disorder and ADHD on a secondary basis was granted with an effective date of December 21, 2007.

The Veteran's appeal involves multiple issues including service connection for TBI, PTSD, right ankle DJD, and cholecystectomy with residual scar. The case is being remanded to obtain additional records, conduct examinations, and review the claims file.

The Board found no evidence of a TBI during service and denied the Veteran's claim for service connection.

The Veteran's service connection claim for residuals of traumatic brain injury (TBI) is granted due to the credible evidence linking his symptoms to combat exposure in Iraq, resolving reasonable doubt in his favor.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for PTSD is granted, with the effective date set at September 28, 2007. The Veteran's residuals of traumatic brain injury are also service-connected.

The Board found no evidence of a valid claim for service connection for cold injury residuals prior to September 13, 2005. The Veteran's initial claims were not adjudicated and there was no effective date established before this time.

The Board has granted service connection for a bilateral hand disability, claimed as residuals of frostbite in both hands, to include chilblains or pernio and vasculitis, finding that the Veteran's current disability is etiologically related to his in-service frostbite.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development of his claims, including obtaining medical records and conducting examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being REMANDED to the Agency of Original Jurisdiction (AOJ) for further development, including a VA examination and obtaining updated VA treatment records. The case will be adjudicated again after these actions are completed.

The Veteran's residuals of a right knee injury, status post ACL reconstruction surgery, are related to his service and the claim for this condition is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have TBI residuals related to service and therefore, denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected TBI is currently rated as 10 percent disabling prior to April 16, 2012, and 70 percent disabling effective April 16, 2012. The appeal for higher initial ratings has been denied.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for mechanical cervical strain and traumatic brain injury with post-traumatic migraine headaches are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied across multiple conditions and issues. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of frostbite, chest pain, right arm disorder, left wrist disorder, right shoulder disorder, left elbow disorder, or right foot disorder. The back disorder claim was also denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied as new and material evidence was not submitted to reopen the claims. The Board found that there was no evidence of a lumbar spine injury during service, and the RO denied service connection for residuals of a traumatic brain injury due to lack of evidence.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for traumatic brain injury and scar tissue in the sinus cavity were denied. The claim for increased evaluation of right eye injury residuals was granted with a 50% rating effective October 26, 2010.